Answer extracted from the The Tim Ferriss Show podcast — listen to the full episode below.
Why should writers reject the idea of waiting for inspiration before beginning their work?
Writing creates the mood, not the reverse. You should stop waiting for inspiration to arrive and start working immediately—the act of writing itself will generate the energy and emotional state you need. A long walk or run beforehand can help clear your mind, but the key is to abandon overthinking and simply begin.
The belief that inspiration must precede action is one of the most persistent myths in creative work. In this episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, Joyce Carol Oates—who has written more than 70 books—directly challenges this assumption with a counterintuitive but powerful statement: mood follows action, not the other way around.
"One must be pitiless about this matter of mood. In a sense, the writing will create the mood."
Joyce Carol Oates — Prolific American author of more than 70 books. Oates is known for her disciplined approach to the creative craft and her candid insights on overcoming the emotional barriers that prevent writers from working. Her body of work demonstrates the power of consistent output over waiting for perfect conditions.
Action First, Emotion Second
The conventional narrative suggests you need to feel inspired, motivated, or emotionally ready before you sit down to write. Oates dismantles this logic entirely. Mood is not a prerequisite for work—it is a byproduct of it. Once you begin writing, the momentum and focus of the work itself generates the emotional state that sustains effort.
This reframing removes a major obstacle: you no longer have to wait for the "right feeling" to arrive. You simply decide to write and trust that the mood will follow. The irony is that many writers who struggle with motivation discover that the hardest part is starting—once they break through that initial resistance, the work pulls them forward.
The Role of Physical Movement
Oates does acknowledge one useful prep: a long walk or run before writing can clear mental clutter and prepare your mind for focused work. Physical activity shifts your neurological state and can ease the transition into creative thinking. However, this is not about waiting for inspiration—it is simply a practical tool to remove distractions and create a clearer mental space.
After the walk, the answer remains the same: stop thinking about whether you are ready, and start working. This episode also features voices from Anne Lamott and Elizabeth Gilbert, who offer complementary perspectives on how to begin writing and choose projects worth committing to over the long term.
See also
What is the core teaching method behind the concept of 'bird by bird' for overcoming writer's block?
Anne Lamott explains that the bird by bird method teaches people to break writing into tiny, manageable pieces rather than tackling an entire book at once.
How should a creative professional choose which projects to commit to when multiple competing ideas arise simultaneously?
Elizabeth Gilbert advises that you must have a proven track record of finishing projects before abandoning one for a new idea.
Who are the early adopter customer segments that immediately recognize Mentava's value proposition?
Parents who most immediately feel the problem include immigrants who come to the U.S. and are shocked at how much worse the education system is compared to their home countries.